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North Schuylkill residents will see tax bump

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FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - North Schuylkill School District taxpayers in Schuylkill County will see a .88-mill increase in real estate taxes in the 2013-14 fiscal year following the formal adoption of the operations budget by the school board on Wednesday.

However, taxpayers in Conyngham Township, Columbia County, will see a decrease of .43 mills in their real estate tax in order to have equal tax levies in both counties.

The board adopted a tentative budget on April 24 in an 8-1 vote. The vote on establishing the tax rates was 7-2.

On Wednesday, the board adopted the budget and the tax rates in separate 7-1 votes. Director Raymond Reichwein provided the negative votes for both. Director Mark Kessler was absent.

The $24,702,013 final budget is about $1 million larger than the 2012-2013 budget of $23,737,981.

The real estate tax rates will change from 36.79 to 37.67 mills in Schuylkill County and from 38.10 to 37.67 mills in Columbia County. The increase complies with the state Act 1 Index of 2.5 percent. One mill brings in about $170,000 in taxes.

"The 2013-2014 final budget reinforces the school board's and administration's strong commitment to the education and athletic programs, as well as the physical plant," district Superintendent Dr. Andrew D. Smarkanic said in a prepared statement.

"As a result, parents and students ... will see no educational program changes. In fact, there are plans for program enhancements in North Schuylkill Elementary in both kindergarten and first grade in the form of both transitional kindergarten and transitional first grade for those students not meeting the core educational objectives in those particular grades."

Smarkanic said the tax increase is due to the proposed renovation projects for both the junior-senior high school and elementary school.

"We understand that it is never popular to impose a tax increase on the community," he said. "However, the community has a vested interest in the schools they support and the time is overdue to address the physical deficiencies in the junior-senior high school and the overcapacity situation at the elementary school. Failure to address these concerns now will cause unnecessary financial hardship in the future."

For the upcoming school year, student athletes will continue to pay a participation fee along with a $10 fee for physicals from the school physician. A student athlete who gets the required physical from their family physician will not pay this fee.

When the team uniforms are assigned, athletes will pay a one-time fee of either $40, $30 or $25, which will be based on their free and/or reduced lunch status. This will also affect the students who participate in band and cheerleading.

In addition to the real estate tax, the following taxes were approved without change from the 2012-2013 budget year:

- Occupational assessment tax, $213.50.

- Real estate transfer tax, 1 percent (shared with municipalities).

- Earned income tax, 1 percent (shared with municipalities).

- Local services tax, $5.

Smarkanic said the budget reflects the "diligent work of the board and administration, along with the cooperation of the employees."

After the meeting, Reichwein said he voted "no" because of the tax increase.

"They did not have to do it (raise taxes)," said Reichwein. "That's why I said no to the budget and no to the taxes."

Resignation

Director Kelly Moran tendered her resignation from the school board. Moran said she will be moving outside the district in the near future.

This is the second month in a row that the board has lost a member; at its May meeting, Daniel Holderman resigned, citing personal reasons.

"I feel that over the past four years as a board we have accomplished a tremendous amount of good and positively impacted the district as a team. I would ask that you continue to work together and to keep the positive momentum to make the district the best it can possibly be," Moran said.

After the acceptance of Moran's resignation, board President Charles Hepler asked for a motion to approve Douglas Gressens to complete her term, which ends in December. After the unanimous vote, Gressens was sworn in by Hepler.

Moran and Holderman were not running for re-election this year. The board chose Glenn Weist to replace Holderman at a previous meeting.

Other business

The board also approved:

- John Malinchok Insurance Agency, Frackville, as insurance adviser for the 2013-2014 school year. The vote was 7-1, with Director Deborah Hampton voting against.

- An agreement with H.A. Berkheimer Inc. to be the delinquent per capita tax collector.

- The appointment of Kim Groody as a long-term substitute assistant secondary principal at a salary of $65,000 for the 2013-2014 school year, effective July 1.

Up next

The board will hold committee meetings at 7 p.m. Aug. 7 and the regular meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 14.

jusalis@republicanherald.com

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